Print report on a specified paper with reporting tool

Background

Sometimes, we want to print a report on a preformatted paper. Such as invoice, bill, credential, etc. With traditional reporting tools, it will be very difficult.

Solution

But now, it will be very easy. With the background picture mode of RAQ Report, we can solve the problem of preformatted paper printing very easily.

Example

Following the example below, you can have a try of preformatted paper printing.

Step 1: Open the report IDE of RAQ Report, and create a new report.

(Tip: You can choose Normal Report or Input Report in "Properties > Report Properties > Input type". If the data of the report for preformatted paper printing are fetched from database, you can create a Normal Report. If it needs to input data and backfill them into the database, you should create an Input Report.)

Step 2: Choose "Insert > Background", and the Report Properties dialog box is shown below:

The Background picture tab in the Report Properties dialog box

Select Each page in the Display Mode drop-down box. Then, the background picture will be displayed in each page. Click the button Next to the URL/class name box to select the path of the background picture for preformatted paper printing. Click the OK button to close the Report Properties dialog box, and the background picture is displayed in current report as shown below:

The screenshot of the report IDE (The aligned gridlines are marked red.)

Step 3: Drag the gridlines of report to align them with the gridlines of background picture as shown above. After adjusting the size of each cell, input needed information in appropriate positions. (Make sure that characters are in blank areas.)

(If the data are fetched from database, you can write expressions in cells directly like Normal Report. If it needs to input data and backfill them into the database, you have to set the properties of cells to which data will be inputted as Editable.)

Step 4: Choose "Properties > Report Properties", and check the Print background at the lower left in the Print tab. It means to print the report with the background picture. (If uncheck it, it means to print the report without the background picture.) As shown below:

The Print tab in the Report Properties dialog box

Step 5: Save the report as bill.raq.

Step 6: Click the buttons and to preview the report in browser as shown below:

The preview of the report for preformatted paper printing

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